Luke Mangan to open test kitchen to let people try airline meals

[lovestotravel]

What a waste of time, and it shows that Virgin have no idea what food to serve or how to improve.

Having a bunch of randoms who rarely fly, or fly every few years to Bali is not an accurate representation of those actually flying in Business

I guess, yet again, well done Virgin for TRYING............

 

[drewbles]

What a waste of time, and it shows that Virgin have no idea what food to serve or how to improve.

Having a bunch of randoms who rarely fly, or fly every few years to Bali is not an accurate representation of those actually flying in Business

I guess, yet again, well done Virgin for TRYING............

This is not Virgin, this is Luke Mangan. He's probably doing it after the backlash of the wraps in Y

 

[lovestotravel]

To me it is a Virgin idea... So either Luke or Virgin or both have no idea.. Take your pick

This is not Virgin, this is Luke Mangan. He's probably doing it after the backlash of the wraps in Y

"We're going to be using the Test Kitchen at Dank Street to test out new recipes and food concepts for the airline," Narelle Kellahan, general manager of Luke Mangan said.

​

 

[drewbles]

To me it is a Virgin idea... So either Luke or Virgin or both have no idea.. Take your pick



"We're going to be using the Test Kitchen at Dank Street to test out new recipes and food concepts for the airline," Narelle Kellahan, general manager of Luke Mangan said.

​

Would be like NP installing a new 'wood-fired' party pie oven to test his pastry IMHO

Either way, I can't say it's a bad idea. If it's not degrading the VA experience whilst it's happening, I don't have any problems.

If it goes downhill, then yes. I'll apologise and join you in your opinion though

 

[lovestotravel]

Well it's a bunch of randoms (news.com.au)..... telling a "chef" what food they like

Interesting concept to be honest

 

[toowongman]

Re: Wanted - testers for LMs new menu

Great that means I get a chance to shove one of those breakfast wraps up his nose.

Where do I sign..........

Or some lounge hot dogs up ...

 

[ckck]

I saw the Heston show which investigated it reasonably scientifically (not enough replication for my liking) and it made sense. I can't think of the reason now but they did come up with a 'cure' which wasn't too practical.




I'd go along if it were actually Heston Blumenthal with some of his weird and wacky things to try though!

IIRC, the "cure" was to use a saline nasal spray. Bit awkward sitting in Steerage and watching other people spray saline solution up their nose. Having said that food/nutrition and all that kind of stuff really interests me so if I find anything further I shall add to this post.

 

[Mal]

There are photos on the Virgin Australia FB page showing cabin crew attending lessons there on how to plate up J food.

 

[Fruitcake]

<Sarcasm>
Further evidence of Virgin having no clue and wasting their time - training flight attendants how to prepare and serve food.
</Sarcasm>
Virgin Australia | Luke Mangan menu training for attendants | Airline food

 

[lovestotravel]

<Sarcasm>
Further evidence of Virgin having no clue and wasting their time - training flight attendants how to prepare and serve food.
</Sarcasm>
Virgin Australia | Luke Mangan menu training for attendants | Airline food

"This course is voluntary"

Not even paid training by Virgin

Besides that is the same article as posted previous basically, just slightly re-worded

The number of people reporting on here about the inconsistent service on VA shows they have along way to go. They can't even get the simple serving of their mocktail correct on all flights.

 

[Fruitcake]

"This course is voluntary"

Not even paid training by Virgin

Certainly not going to disagree with you about inconsistencies in service. Personally I've never encountered any that have been to the detriment of my enjoyment of the product but as you point out, the inconsistencies are there and anecdotes on here show it's a problem.

However, voluntary does not mean unpaid. My employer offers plenty of voluntary training courses on company time.

 

[lovestotravel]

True! I am going to give Virgin another 12 months to sort themselves out, I'll start flying them domestically again from March 2014 onwards when I'll be downgraded to Gold status with them.

 

[Fruitcake]

At the risk of sounding like a stalker, there's a video interview with Luke Mangan on the Australian Financial Review website about commercialisation of his brand.

"Chef Luke Mangan says commercialising his reputation in the kitchen has been critical for his survival."
Mangan dismisses &lsquo;sellout&rsquo; critics

Apologies to non-AFR subscribers, but bits relevant to VA include the interviewer asking whether Luke Mangan feels that putting his name to reheated frozen food on Virgin Australia is a compromise of his artistry. Mr Mangan aggressively interjects, pointing out that VA business class meals are prepared fresh.

The interviewer asks about the "$10 pies in economy" - to which Mr Mangan responds that yes, those are frozen, but he developed the recipe and production process himself. No question on the infamous wraps, unfortunately.

Regarding the test kitchen noted in earlier articles in this thread, Mr Mangan says it is a consolidation of his previously separate warehouse and corporate offices, and the test kitchen is where concepts for both VA and his restaurants on P&O cruise ships are tested and developed.

In regards to a new venture into preservative-free organic baby foods, he says that he has no clue why nobody has done that yet in Australia.